Macropiper excelsum (Piperaceae) - Plate 536

Line engraving by Thomas Scratchley, after Sydney Parkinson (1769 - 1770).
Joseph Banks and his party saw this species in: New Zealand (8 October 1769 - 31 March 1770) This small tree is found throughout coastal and lowland North Island and in the northern half of South Island, usually near the coast. Because of the hot taste of the leaves M. excelsum is called the pepper tree. The maori name is kawakawa, recalling the stimulating drink called kava made from Piper methysticum in the south-west pacific.